P7 pupils encouraged to ‘Beesafe’

The Public Health Agency and Lisburn Policing and Community Safety Partnership funded the weeklong event, which provided invaluable information to the young people on personal safety.

A wide range of safety issues were covered by Bee Safe including: bus safety; fire safety; safety in the home; staying safe around dogs; safe use of the Internet; staying safe around electricity; personal safety and how to act if approached by strangers.

Councillor Luke Poots, Vice-Chairman of the Council’s Environmental Services Committee, speaking about the initiative, said: “Bee Safe is specifically aimed at P7 pupils to ensure they receive relevant personal safety advice in advance of moving into post-primary education. The transfer to a larger school can be daunting for the pupils and the agencies involved in this initiative wish to ensure that the process is as stress free and safe as possible for the young people.

“Each agency present at the Bee Safe event used interactive scenarios and role-play exercises to encourage those pupils present to think for themselves. As the pupils enter a new academic era it is expected that they will have to undertake more personal responsibility and will experience new situations. Bee Safe has been designed to help them develop life skills that they will require as they progress through the education system.”

The Council’s Environmental Health Service along with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, Northern Ireland Electricity, Translink, the Council’s Dog Wardens and Home Safety Officer interacted with the pupils in this multi-agency community safety initiative.

Councillor Poots added: “It is excellent that the local primary schools take the time to bring their pupils to this event that ensures those they have nurtured and educated over the last seven years are given the opportunity to learn how to stay safe in many different situations.

“On behalf of the Council, I would like to extend thanks to all the agencies involved over the course of the weeklong event; and I hope that they will continue to work with the Council’s Environmental Health Unit in future Bee Safe events as I believe this initiative is very beneficial to P7 pupils,” he concluded.

For further information or advice on safety please contact the Council’s Environmental Health Service on telephone 028 9250 9394 or by email to [email protected]. Information is also available on the Council’s website www.lisburncity.gov.uk